How to Make Your Dog Famous on Instagram

From Jiffpom to Doug the Pug, there are plenty of globally recognized pups who have found fame on Instagram. And with your dog’s adorable good looks and charming personality, maybe they’ve got what it takes to be a social media star too.

The good news is that anyone can make their dog Instagram famous; the bad news is that there’s a little more to it than just sharing cute photos of your pup.

If you want your pooch to go viral, build a loyal online fan base, and maybe even earn an income from their online antics, here’s a detailed guide to how to make your dog Insta-famous.

Your dog may be super cute, super smart, or super cheeky, but there’s a whole lot more to going viral on Instagram than just good looks and a winning personality. If you want your dog to get noticed, you’ll need to understand how the Instagram algorithm works.

The algorithm decides which posts appear in a user’s feed, and in what order. It takes into account factors such as:

• How often you interact with your followers
• Whether a user regularly engages with this type of content
• How recently you posted
• How many likes a post has
• The duration of the post (if you post a video)

So getting your content seen and shared is a little more complicated than you might think. Your posts should be fun and funny, cute and interesting — there’s no doubt about that. But other factors such as how often you post, how you interact with your followers, and the type of content you share can all affect the popularity of your pup’s profile.

In late 2021, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri also announced that video would be a priority for the platform in 2022. With this in mind, it’s worth including plenty of video content as well as photos in your posts, and using Reels to record and share short and fun videos.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at the finer details of how to make your dog famous on Instagram.

Instagram dogs are a dime a dozen, so how can you make your pup stand out from the crowd? These top tips will help you grow your dog’s Instagram audience and get your pup the attention they deserve.

Showcase your dog’s superpower

Before you start creating any content, think about what it is that makes your dog special. Maybe they’re impressively athletic. Maybe they can perform a host of cool tricks. Maybe they’re always getting up to mischief. Maybe they’re a canine fashionista who loves showing off their new threads. Or maybe they’ve got looks only a mother could love.

Whatever it is that makes your dog so unique, that’s what you want to highlight in your Instagram content. When you share what you love most about your dog, chances are the world will fall in love with them too.

It’s also important at this stage to decide whether you’ll post using your own voice or your pet’s voice. Both options can lead to highly entertaining posts, but regardless of which you choose, make sure to stay consistent.

Once you’ve got this sorted, you can start working on a content plan.

Post regularly (and time your posts)

If you want your dog to be famous on Instagram, you’ll need to make sharing on the 'gram part of your regular routine. Consistency is the keyword that gets thrown around a lot in conversations about growing an Instagram following, but you don’t want to go overboard and spam your followers with an excessive amount of content.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri suggests 2 feed posts per week and 2 Stories per day as the sweet spot when building a fanbase.

When you post is also important. You want to share your images and videos at times when they’ll get the most views and audience engagement, so find out when your followers are most active on Instagram. If you have a Business or Creator account, you can find this info in the Insights section. Programs like Hootsuite and Later also allow you to schedule posts ahead of time.

Take high-quality photos

The better the quality of your Instagram images, the easier it’ll be to attract followers and likes. When your followers are scrolling through their feeds, you want your photos to stop them in their tracks — and hopefully motivate them to send a comment or a like your way.

You don’t need to be a professional photographer to capture pawsome dog photos, but it does take practice. The simplest piece of advice is to take lots of photos and experiment with different camera settings, angles, and effects. In addition to Instagram’s editing tools, you can also use photo editing apps to give your pics that wow factor — VSCO, Photoshop Express, Lightroom, and Snapseed are just a few worth considering.

Related:

How to Take "Grrreat" Pics of Your Dog

Tips and Tricks for Taking Stunning Cat Pics

Video is vital

As mentioned, video is a key focus for Instagram in coming times, so you need to make video content a key part of your pup’s Insta strategy. Short videos are a great way to let your dog’s personality shine through to your followers and showcase whatever it is that makes them so darn loveable.

The higher the resolution of your videos, the better. It’s also important to remember to shoot vertically, and include text for those followers watching with the volume down. 

Finally, don’t recycle videos from other platforms like TikTok — keep it unique for your dog’s Instagram audience.

Use the right hashtags

There’s one thing all the best Instagram dogs have in common: they know how to use hashtags correctly. The right hashtags increase the visibility of your posts by helping Insta users find the content they like, so search for popular hashtags on the platform and check out what other Instagram dogs are using. 

Here are some of the best dog Instagram hashtags you may like to include:

• #dogsofinstagram
• #dogoftheday
• #dogstagram
• #dogmom
• #cute
• #cutedogs
• #puppy
• #doglover
• #doggo
• #ilovemydog

Of course, you can also use hashtags related to specific events, places, or even breeds, like #tongueouttuesday, #sanfranciscodogs, or #corgisofinstagram.

Just don’t go overboard with the pound sign — stick to around 3–5 hashtags per post for the best results.

Craft clever captions

If you want to make your dog Instagram famous, you’ll also need to pay close attention to how you caption your posts. The best dog Instagram captions are fun, witty, and help followers get a better idea of your pup’s personality.

Don’t be afraid to use puns, make jokes, and share the stories behind the photos you post. When a quality image is paired with a well-thought-out caption, your content can have a big impact.

Engage with your audience 

If you’re wondering how to grow Instagram followers and likes for your dog, another simple thing you need to do is interact with your followers. Remember, making your dog Instagram famous isn’t just you sharing cute pics and videos with a legion of adoring fans — it has to be a two-way street.

So respond to comments and messages from your pup’s fans to show them just how much you appreciate them. This can help create a sense of community around your dog’s profile, and boosting engagement with your audience will also help increase the visibility of your content.

Network with other Instagram dogs

There may be thousands and thousands of dogs on Instagram, but don’t think of them as your competition. Instead, think of them as your fur-iends — after all, they’re sharing the same sort of content as you, so why not show them how much you love their content?

Send a few likes their way and comment on their posts. This interaction is not only a simple way to network on Instagram that could lead to collaborations with other pet parents in the future, but it’ll also put your pup’s profile in front of the sort of Instagram pet parents you want to reach.

Mix up your content

Variety is the spice of life, and it’s also a key ingredient to Instagram success. Take a look at the best dog Instagram accounts and you’ll find that they share a variety of content.

So instead of bombarding your loyal followers with minor variations on the same photo day after day, mix it up. Get creative with props, capture images from different angles, and take your pup on interesting adventures. Keep track of trending hashtags and memes and work out ways you can incorporate them into your dog’s posts.

Different content formats are important too, so use posts, Stories, polls, videos, and Reels to make sure you keep it fresh. Experiment with different content types to find out what works best for your audience.

Analyze what works (and what doesn’t)

Finally, remember to review your social media strategy regularly so you can tweak it when needed. Keep track of which posts generate the most interest and what it is that makes them most successful. For example:

• What type of content did you share? Was it an in-feed post or a Story, a photo or a video, or maybe a poll?
• Was it cute, funny, serious, heartwarming, or something else?
• When did you post it?
• Which hashtags did you use?

Once you know what works best, you can start brainstorming future content ideas.

OK, so you’ve built a decent fan base for your dog on Instagram — what next?

While you’ll obviously need to keep producing the quality content your followers love, now is also the time to start treating your Insta efforts a little more like a business. You can still have a whole lot of fun doing it, of course, but it’ll also take time and hard work if you want to reach for the stars.

There are multiple ways your dog can earn money and freebies on Instagram. The main options are:

• Sponsored posts for pet brands
• Receiving free products to review or feature in posts
• Selling merchandise featuring your pet
• Including affiliate links that allow followers to click through and buy products you recommend

The key to earning an income from your dog’s Instagram is networking. In many ways, this is what you’ve already been doing on Instagram when you interact with your followers and like or comment on content posted by other Insta dogs. But now it’s time to start networking with brands too.

Start by tagging brands that feature in your posts

This could be the company behind your dog’s collar, favorite treats, their most-loved toy, or maybe even brands you wouldn’t normally associate with the pet space — like vacuum cleaners for dogs that are heavy shedders, for example, or even your dog’s favorite brand of pet-safe human food they love snacking on as a treat.

In some cases, brands might reach out to you with the aim of building a relationship. They might send you free products to review and promote, invites to special doggy-themed events (which are a great networking opportunity), or even be willing to pay for sponsored posts.

Pitch brands directly

You don’t have to sit back and wait for brands to come to you; don’t be afraid to reach out to companies directly. Influencer marketplaces like Afluencer and influence.co can be a good place to start.

Or, you can email company marketing departments directly and explain who your dog is, what you have to offer, and how you think you can work together. This may feel a little awkward at first, but it’s all about getting your pup’s name and face out there, so don’t be shy.

It’s also worth mentioning that there are professional marketing agencies that can help boost your dog’s Instagram followers and likes, plus help you connect with pet brands. This can make it easier to boost your dog’s following and income-earning potential, but it does come at a cost. 

Want your pup to become a petfluencer? Be careful which brands you partner with. If you can form relationships with brands that offer products your dog regularly uses or likes, the content you create will be so much more authentic and believable.

But if your dog’s connection to the product or brand is a bit of a stretch, or if a company just doesn’t seem like a good match for your pet, steer clear. It might feel strange to say no to a potential client, but staying true to your roots will help you build trust with your pup’s followers in the long run.

You also don’t want to go overboard with sponsored content. If all your posts start seeming like ads, followers will soon start scrolling right on past. Dedicate most of your content to your dog’s antics and adventures just like you always would, and work in your brand partners organically.

As your dog’s star rises, you might want to think about investing some money into their social media efforts to improve the quality of their content. Here are a few equipment ideas that could help take your dog’s Insta to the next level.

DSLR camera

A top-of-the-line camera is by no means a must for content creators, as modern smartphones have everything you need to capture high-quality images and videos for your dog’s Instagram account. But a DSLR camera with a variety of lenses can open up a host of creative opportunities and help you create photos and videos that really stand out from the crowd. And if your dog is into canine sports or adventures, you might want to consider an action sports camera like a GoPro.

Tripod

It’s a relatively affordable purchase, and regardless of whether you use your smartphone or a camera, a tripod can go a long way towards helping you create professional-quality photos and videos.

Props and backdrops

Love scrolling through cute posed photos of pups on Instagram? If so, you’ll know just how big an impact a few basic props or different backdrops can make to a shot. Splurging on some stylish outfits for your fur-baby can also open up possibilities for some creative and memorable content.

Lighting equipment

Every professional photographer and videographer knows just how crucial good lighting is to the look and feel of any shot. Some tripods come with ring lights built in, but there’s also a huge range of affordable and portable lights you can buy to transform dull and lifeless shots into something bright and inviting.

Microphone

Quality audio is essential for video content. Depending on the quality of the mic on your camera, you may want to invest in a dedicated microphone to capture better audio for your videos. It’ll also come in handy when recording voiceovers.

Analytics tools

As well as the Insights feature in the Instagram app, there are plenty of Instagram analytics tools out there that can help you dig a whole lot deeper into your social media strategy. Some programs are free and others are paid, but a few worth considering include Hootsuite Analytics, Later, Squarelovin, and Crowdfire.

If you can tick these 5 items off your to-do list, you and your pup will be well on your way to Instagram stardom!

1. Identify what makes your dog stand out from the crowd and how you can use that in content.

2. Post high-quality content (especially video) at the right times to grow follows, likes, and engagement.

3. Craft funny or memorable captions, and include 3–5 relevant Instagram dog hashtags for maximum reach.

4. Network with other Instagram pet accounts.

5. Experiment with different types of content (like Stories and Reels) to see what works and what doesn't.

Over time, you can continue to grow your audience by investing in better photography equipment and reaching out to pet brands to monetize your dog's IG account.

But regardless of whether your pup becomes a social media sensation, trying to make your dog famous on Instagram gives the two of you a chance to have a whole lot of fun together. So while finding fame might seem like hard work at times, remember to enjoy yourself. Your fur-baby will love the extra time you spend together, so be sure to stop and smell the roses every chance you get.

Is your pup on Instagram? Tag us in a post so we can get to know your famous fur-baby! (Oh, and don't forget to add the #wagwalking hashtag for a chance to have your pup featured on our feed!)